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Basket Philips air fryer and Cuisinart air fryer toaster ovens lined up on a kitchen counter. Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Best Air Fryers of 2024

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Basket Philips air fryer and Cuisinart air fryer toaster ovens lined up on a kitchen counter. Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

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Editor's Choice Product image of Ninja Speedi SF301
Best Overall

Ninja Speedi SF301

Check Price at Amazon

Convection and steam technologies make the new Ninja Speedi an air fryer and multicooker that's capable of delivering complete meals in 15 minutes. Read More

Pros

  • Excellent air fryer
  • Delivers complete meals quickly
  • Intuitive and easy to use

Cons

  • Bulky, industrial design
  • Lacks handles on pot and crisper tray
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Cuisinart TOA-65
Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Cuisinart TOA-65

Check Price at Amazon

As an 1,800-watt toaster oven air fryer, this can help you prepare a variety of delicious food products at anywhere from 80 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Read More

Pros

  • Foods come out crispy
  • Toasts evenly
  • Digital controls
  • Nonstick interior

Cons

  • Baking requires time and temperature adjustments
3
Product image of Kalorik FT 52051 BK
Best Value

Kalorik FT 52051 BK

Check Price at Amazon

This budget-friendly air fryer boasts plenty of space for crisping large batches of food in one layer. We also love the viewing window and quiet motor. Read More

Pros

  • Large basket
  • Viewing window to monitor food
  • Quiet during operation
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Unintuitive controls
  • Large footprint
4
Product image of Instant Vortex Plus
Best Basket Air Fryer

Instant Vortex Plus

Check Price at Amazon

This features a well functioning ClearCook window and mediocre OdorErase technology. But it does well in crisping foods. Read More

Pros

  • ClearCook window
  • Crisps food well
  • Easy-to-use interface

Cons

  • Lacking manual/recipes
  • OdorErase technology not effective
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9630/98
Most User-Friendly

Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9630/98

Check Price at Amazon

When it comes to air frying, this knocked it out of the park. The downside is that this is a big, heavy, machine that's noisier than most. Read More

Pros

  • Huge capacity
  • No preheat required
  • Foods come out crispy

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of space
  • Noisy
  • Heavy
  • Best Overall Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer
  • Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven Cuisinart TOA-65 Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven
  • Best Value Kalorik FT 52051 BK
  • Best Basket Air Fryer Instant Vortex Plus
  • Most User-Friendly Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9630/98
  • Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer Typhur Dome
  • Other Air Fryers We Tested
  • Air Fryers We Reviewed That Didn't Score Well
  • How We Tested Air Fryers
  • How Does an Air Fryer Work?
  • How to Use an Air Fryer
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Looking for the best air fryer to buy? After years of extensive research and hands-on testing dozens of these small appliances, we can confidently say that the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer (available at Amazon for $199.95) is the best air fryer we've tested.

Its results are closest to using a deep fryer, making crispy, juicy foods, without the extra calories or trans fats. Plus, like many air fryers, it includes dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleanup.

If you're looking to save kitchen counter space and want to combine your toaster oven and air fryer, we recommend the Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven (available at Amazon). This larger-style air fryer successfully circulates hot air around your food, but it also has the functionality of a great toaster oven.


The Ninja Speedi air fryer sitting on a kitchen island next to a plate of perfectly air fried chicken.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Ninja Speedi combines many cooking functions into one appliance, but its air fryer function especially shines.

Best Overall
Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer
  • Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Dimensions: 13.8 x 14.1 x 12.4 inches
  • Weight: 16 pounds

While this easily ranked as the best air fryer we've tested, the Ninja Speedi does more than air frying alone. It’s also a multicooker with steam technology that allows it to cook Speedi Meals, which combines several cooking features simultaneously to make meal time quick and easy. Plus, it has 9 additional settings for everything from baking to proofing bread.

When it comes to air frying, though, this appliance provides some of the best results we’ve ever seen. During our tests, french fries and chicken nuggets came out exceptionally evenly cooked, and were as brown and crispy as if they had been fried in a pot of oil.

In spite of its many functions, the Ninja is exceptionally easy to program. The lever to select air fry or rapid cooker is large and easy to flip. Once you switch it into place, the cooking functions for your selection become available and are easy to toggle through.

The cooking pot and crisper tray have a nonstick coating and can be placed in the dishwasher. It also comes with a comprehensive manual, a Speedi Meals guide, and a helpful recipe booklet. You can also access the Speedi Meal Builder online, which suggests various combinations of foods and cooking times.

It’s heavier and a little bulkier than most traditional air fryers, but it also offers many more functions. Neither the cooking pot nor the crisper tray have handles, so you should be extra careful when removing them—we recommend silicone grippers rather than traditional pot holders. And be aware that during air frying, the appliance makes a whooshing noise that sounds like a hair dryer on low speed.

Read our full review of the Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker & Air Fryer

Pros

  • Excellent air fryer

  • Delivers complete meals quickly

  • Intuitive and easy to use

Cons

  • Bulky, industrial design

  • Lacks handles on pot and crisper tray

$199.95 from Amazon

$199.99 from Home Depot

$114.99 from Walmart
A Cuisinart Digital Air Fryer filled with french fries sits on a kitchen island.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Cuisinart Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven impressed as the best of its kind that we tested.

Best Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Cuisinart TOA-65 Digital AirFryer Toaster Oven
  • Capacity: 0.6 cubic feet
  • Dimensions: 17 x 21.73 x 15.75 inches
  • Weight: 20.3 pounds

This multipurpose appliance from Cuisinart not only air fries, but it has all the versatility that comes with a toaster oven, and it ranks as our best air fryer toaster oven.

Everything we “fried” cooked up brown and crispy, including batter-fried chicken that came out as crunchy as those fast-food wings and tenders that come in a bucket. Bread toasted exceptionally evenly and matched the shade we selected from pale but dry to dark but not black. When baking, we got great results when we reduced the time and oven temperature to prevent over-browning.

The digital Cuisinart is among the more expensive air fryer toaster ovens on the market, but it’s handsome and has digital controls with pre-programmed settings for air frying. For bake and pizza, there’s an automatic preheat; no preheating is required for air frying.

This model isn’t as wide as a typical toaster oven, so it won’t take up as much countertop space. While it is taller, it will fit under a standard cabinet. Despite its relatively compact size, it’s large enough to accommodate three pounds of fries, six slices of bread, and a four-pound roast chicken. With a low setting for slow cooking and braising, as well as dehydrating and proofing modes, it gives a lot of versatility for the money.

The interior has a nonstick coating and the air fryer basket and baking pan can be tossed in the dishwasher. Cuisinart provides a helpful manual complete with cooking charts and appealing recipes as well as a quick reference guide that stores in a slot in the bottom of the oven so it’s easy to find when needed.

Pros

  • Foods come out crispy

  • Toasts evenly

  • Digital controls

  • Nonstick interior

Cons

  • Baking requires time and temperature adjustments

$299.95 from Amazon

$299.99 from Target

$299.95 from Home Depot

$299.95 from Abt
Kalorik air fryer on a kitchen countertop
Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau

The Kalorik 5-quart Air Fryer offers a lot of bang for your buck.

Best Value
Kalorik FT 52051 BK

If you’re looking for an air fryer that’s affordable and large enough to cook for several people, this model from Kalorik is a surprisingly good value.

Its 5-quart basket is more spacious than many other models, allowing you to fit more food in a single layer. We were able to fit three Eggo waffles in the bottom of the square basket, and they didn’t overlap at all! This is ideal if you frequently cook large batches of french fries or chicken wings, as they cook best when air can circulate around them.

This air fryer also has a glass viewing window, as well as an inner light, allowing you to monitor your food without opening the basket. It’s extremely quiet during operation, and we found that it’s easier to clean than many other air fryers. Its nonstick interior comes clean with just a quick wipe or two, even when there’s sticky or greasy residue on it. (Alternatively, you can put the whole basket and trivet in the dishwasher for hands-off maintenance.)

Of course, the Kalorik air fryer does have a few quirks worth noting. Its control panel has a borderline overwhelming number of buttons, and many have weird icons that don’t accurately represent what they do. We needed to keep the manual nearby the first few times we used this air fryer to help program it. We also found that it’s not as powerful as other models, and many recipes needed a few extra minutes to be properly cooked. Still, if you’re looking for a large air fryer that won’t break the bank, the Kalorik is a worthwhile option to consider.

Read our full review of the Kalorik 5-quart Digital Air Fryer

Pros

  • Large basket

  • Viewing window to monitor food

  • Quiet during operation

  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Unintuitive controls

  • Large footprint

Buy now at Amazon

$61.96 from Walmart
An Instant Vortex air fryer.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

The Instant Vortex Plus is a solid air fryer choice, as long as you're willing to do some recipe research.

Best Basket Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Plus
  • Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.8 x 14.9 inches
  • Weight: 16.3 pounds

This sleek air fryer features a unique ClearCook window that allows you to visually monitor your food as it cooks: a plus that we absolutely loved during testing.

But this appliance isn't just visually appealing; It also crisps food quickly and evenly. Everything from fried chicken to frozen fries to Brussels sprouts came out with impressively tasty results during testing.

We also love how it easy it is to use. The touch screen is beautiful and intuitive, and we love that the dial made navigating time and temperature quick and seamless. We didn't even have to read the manual to learn how to navigate between cooking mode, time, and temperature settings.

This machine also boasts an OdorErase filter—which is designed to minimize residual food smells in your home—but we didn't find that it worked particularly well. As long as that's not a deal-breaker for you, though, this air fryer is an excellent pick.

Read our full review of the Instant Vortex Plus

Pros

  • ClearCook window

  • Crisps food well

  • Easy-to-use interface

Cons

  • Lacking manual/recipes

  • OdorErase technology not effective

$129.95 from Amazon

$129.95 from Walmart
The Philips XXL air fryer sits on a kitchen counter. It has a silver handle in front of the black appliance.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Philips Airfryer XXL performs consistently -- even with large family-size portions.

Most User-Friendly
Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9630/98
  • Capacity: 4 quarts
  • Dimensions: 12.7 x 17 x 12.4 inches
  • Weight: 17.5 pounds

The Philips Airfryer XXL was one of the most user-friendly appliances we tested. During testing, I tasted a ton of french fries, and this appliance made ones that I couldn’t stop noshing on. They had the perfect combination of crispy crunchiness, tenderness, and potato flavor—even when I loaded the basket with more than three pounds of them.

The battered Nashville hot chicken tenders I made finished with a crackling crust as if they’d been deep-fried, and hamburgers tasted like they were made on the grill.

This appliance was consistently fantastic at air frying, even with large family-size portions of healthier fried foods. Plus, it's a well-built machine and easy to use—no preheating is required. If you really love fried food without all the fat, the Philips is definitely worth the investment.

That said, it’s a big, heavy machine that’s noisier than most of its competitors while operating. And with no digital control panel, it’s hard to set cooking times and temperatures precisely.

With a few more parts than most other models, there’s more to clean. Fortunately, all the parts are dishwasher safe.

Just note that it will eat up considerable shelf and counter space. But the results are worth the payoff. An easy-to-read recipe book with lots of cooking ideas is also included.

Pros

  • Huge capacity

  • No preheat required

  • Foods come out crispy

Cons

  • Takes up a lot of space

  • Noisy

  • Heavy

$163.24 from Amazon

$189.56 from Walmart
A pizza on the left and potatoes on the right, baked inside the Typhur Dome Air Fryer.
Credit: Reviewed / Alyssa Langer

The Dome is able to crisp up large quantities of food (and a whole pizza) thanks to its generous size.

Best Large-Capacity Air Fryer
Typhur Dome
  • Capacity: 5.6 quarts
  • Dimensions: 17.3 x 15.5 x 9.6 inches
  • Weight: 20.5 pounds

The Typhur Dome isn't your typical air fryer. Its dome-shaped design means it's wide enough to fit an entire 12-inch pizza and crisp up large batches of food in a single layer. And during testing, we found its unique design to be a huge advantage: Batches as large as 10 strips of bacon and 32 chicken wings can crisp up quickly and evenly.

Perhaps most noticeably, the Typhur Dome works extremely quietly. We barely noticed that it was on while food cooked, and as soon as we finished our testing and switched back to using a traditional air fryer, the sound pollution change was extremely evident.

We also love that this air fryer has a self-clean setting that uses high heat to clean off any caked-on residual food or grease, which is not commonly found in most air fryers.

Of course, the downside to large capacity air fryers is that they monopolize counter space. This machine has a width of over 15 inches and it weighs over 20 pounds, which means you likely won't want to lug it in and out of cabinet space for each use, and it'll require a large amount of permanent counter space.

Read our full review of the Typhur Dome

Pros

  • Quiet

  • Speedy

  • Intuitive user experience

Cons

  • Requires significant counter space

  • Shallow basket

  • No viewing window

Buy now at Amazon

Other Air Fryers We Tested

Product image of Ninja AF101
Ninja Air Fryer
  • Capacity: 4 quarts
  • Dimensions: 8.5 x 12.1 x 11 inches
  • Weight: 10.58 pounds

The Ninja performed so well, you could have convinced me that both the breaded and battered chicken was fried in a cast iron skillet.

French fries were good but not perfect. They didn’t quite have the crunch that you get from a deep fryer or the Philips, which can even crisp up a whole bag of frozen fries at once. However, the Ninja is about a quarter of the price of the Philips and is nowhere near as big or heavy.

On the Ninja, you’ll find digital temperature controls and settings for reheating, roasting, and dehydrating. More options make for more complicated controls, but it’s not difficult to master the necessary steps. The nonstick basket can be washed in the dishwasher, too. It also includes a stainless-steel rack for multilevel cooking.

Pros

  • An air fryer and multi-cooker in one

  • Digital controls

  • Food comes out crispy

Cons

  • Very large

  • Cookbook not helpful

  • Noisy

Buy now at Amazon

$62.99 from Best Buy

$89.99 from Target

$89.99 from Home Depot
Product image of Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer
Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer
  • Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Dimensions: 12.5 x 14.8 x 14.8 inches
  • Weight: 15.67 pounds

The Dash Deluxe 6-Quart Air Fryer delivers food that’s browned and crispy, as you don’t overload it. Although it’s a 6-quart model, the basket's small diameter holds less food in one layer than the larger models tested.

While the Dash doesn’t include digital controls, it's still very simple to operate. Simply turn the temperature and time dials in an intuitive, two-step process. If you’re tired of boring-looking appliances, the Dash comes in glossy red, yellow, and aqua, as well as white and black.

Even though you have to hand wash the baskets, they're nonstick and easy to get clean.

Pros

  • Food comes out crispy

  • Simple to operate

  • Multiple colors available

Cons

  • Controls aren’t digital

  • Basket is tricky to remove

  • Parts are not dishwasher safe

$85.99 from Amazon
Product image of Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer
Dreo ChefMaker Combi Fryer
  • Capacity: 6 quarts
  • Dimensions: 10.59 x 14.65 x 15.67 inches
  • Weight: 15.36 pounds

The Dreo ChefMaker is more than just an air fryer. It also comes with added features to extend its capabilities, like a built-in temperature probe and accompanying app compatibility. That means it can do everything from crisp up frozen fries to fully cook a steak to medium-rare perfection.

But we did encounter a few hiccups during testing. First, the speed of this machine comes with a serious learning curve. Although we were excited that the Dreo ChefMaker churned out quick crispy results, we were unable to follow standard air frying recipes, and instead had to keep a close eye on the viewing window as the food cooked.

This large appliance also comes with a hefty price tag, so it may not be a suitable option for consumers in the market for a typical air fryer. Since it takes up a decent amount of counter space and calls for an investment, this machine is better suited toward folks looking for an all-encompassing hands-off cooking experience.

Read our full review of the Dreo ChefMaker.

Pros

  • Quick cooking and intuitive

  • Easy to clean

  • Runs quietly

Cons

  • Large footprint

  • Prone to overcooking

$279.00 from Amazon
Product image of Ninja AF150AMZ
Ninja AF150AMZ
  • Capacity: 5.5 quarts
  • Dimensions: 11 x 14 x 14.75 inches
  • Weight: 11.7 pounds

The Ninja Air Fryer XL is a larger version of the Ninja Air Fryer. It has a 5.5-quart basket, as well as an extra “air roast” setting, but beyond that, it’s virtually identical to the smaller (and cheaper) model. We weren’t impressed with the capacity of this air fryer—the round basket is taller but not that much wider than the original version’s, which isn’t really helpful when you’re cooking foods that need to be in a single layer. When we cooked waffles in it, only two fit in the bottom, and the second one didn’t lay flat.

In testing, we found that this air fryer is more powerful than most, creating a lovely crispy exterior on foods in less time. We often needed to pull food out a few minutes early to prevent it from over-cooking.

We also like that this model has a simple and straightforward control panel, but it lacks features like a preheat function and mid-cycle shake timer. You also have to manually pause it before pulling the basket out—otherwise, the inner fan doesn’t stop.

Read our full review of the Ninja Air Fryer XL

Pros

  • Cooks food quickly

  • Straightforward controls

  • Good original recipes

Cons

  • Lack of features

  • Not as large as expected

$159.99 from Amazon

$219.90 from Walmart
Product image of Ninja Foodi OL701
Ninja Foodi
  • Capacity: 8-quart pot and 5-quart Crisp Basket
  • Dimensions: 15.39 x 14.21 x 14.25 inches
  • Weight: 25.6 pounds

Our best pressure cooker is also a multicooker with an excellent air-fry function.

With 14 functions combined into one appliance, incredibly, they all work well. It delivered crunchy, well-browned results in our testing, plus it pressure-cooks better than any appliance we've tested.

If you like, you can even combine the functions, pressure cooking a chicken and then air-frying it to brown and crisp the skin—and now all under one lid with this redesigned model. Additional programs let you broil, dehydrate, steam, slow cook, and sauté, making the Foodi the most versatile multicooker on the market.

Like the Ninja Speedi, the Foodi is space-saving compared to owning both an air fryer and a multicooker. But it’s still a large, heavy appliance that's not easy to store. The basket and the pot are nonstick and dishwasher safe, but the lid requires TLC.

Pros

  • Cooks well

  • Lots of features

  • Built-in thermometer

  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • Manual could be more helpful

Buy now at Amazon

$279.99 from Walmart
Product image of Dash Compact Air Fryer
Dash Compact
  • Capacity: 2 quarts
  • Dimensions: 8.1 x 10.2 x 11.4 inches
  • Weight: 5.7 pounds

This little guy is just so darn cute you can’t help loving it. The Dash Compact does a decent job of “frying” as long as you stick to about a half-pound of food at a time. No preheating is required, but for best results, the food should be tossed and turned several times during cooking.

With its dial temperature controls, you can’t set the Dash precisely. For the most part, the manual is helpful and even includes a few recipes, but some of the temperatures specified in the charts and recipes are different from the ones printed on the machine. The dial also doesn't have precise temperature markings.

The nonstick basket is small enough to go in the dishwasher without hogging too much space. Like the bigger model, the Dash Compact comes in a number of colors: red, aqua, gray, white, or black.

Pros

  • Small

  • Doesn't require preheating

  • basket is nonstick and dishwasher safe

Cons

  • Controls aren't digital

  • Cooks only one-half pound of food well

$49.00 from Amazon
Product image of Gourmia GAF686
Gourmia GAF686

The Gourmia 6-quart Digital Air Fryer works well enough, but it didn’t wow us. For the price point, there are definitely better options out there.

It takes longer than many other models to preheat, and its basket is hard to put in—one side generally gets stuck, and you have to push it into place. However, it does have a larger-than-average basket, giving you more room to spread out your food.

In terms of cooking performance, this air fryer fell in the middle of the pack. The roasted potatoes and french fries needed extra time to achieve a nice crispy exterior, but the Brussels sprouts came out great.

We weren’t impressed by the brand’s original recipe, though—the strawberry pastries we made weren’t cooked well on the bottom, and the filling was an unappealing lumpy consistency after cooking.

Pros

  • Long preheat times

  • Clunky basket

  • Cheap build

Cons

  • Spacious basket

Buy now at Amazon

$59.99 from Walmart

Air Fryers We Reviewed That Didn't Score Well

  • Despite its name, the PowerXL Vortex is neither powerful nor extra large. We found that its cheap design, lack of a preheat setting, and mediocre cooking performance means you can likely find a better value elsewhere.

  • We've reviewed a few Krups models. We like the Krups Easy Fry Deluxe Digital (available at Amazon) a bit better than the Krups Fry Delight thanks to its design and cooking results. However, neither are very close to mimicking the crispiness of food that came out of a traditional deep fryer.

  • The Black and Decker 2L Purifry (available at Amazon) is a big appliance, but comes with a much smaller basket. With no digital controls and tiny numbers, it's really difficult to set your temperature precisely.

How We Tested Air Fryers

The Tester

Hi, I'm Sharon Franke, and I’ve been reviewing kitchen equipment for more than 30 years. Before that, I worked as a professional chef in New York City restaurants for seven years. Now I’m an avid home cook.

While I’ve made french fries and pan-fried chicken breast cutlets countless times, they’re not in heavy rotation in my house these days. Just like you, I want to avoid the oil and all that work that comes with frying. That’s why I was thrilled to test whether air fryers could satisfy my hankerings for crispy food, fat- and fuss-free.

The Tests

French fries, fried chicken and nuggets that have been cooked in different air fryers.
Credit: Reviewed / Sharon Franke

In order to test air fryers, we cooked up dozens of batches of french fries and nuggets, as well as Nashville hot chicken and burgers.

To find the top performers, we rated each appliance on how well it cooked fresh (from scratch) and frozen french fries and chicken nuggets, as well as how well each model grilled hamburgers.

Since each appliance is unique and there are all types of air fryers on the market now, you’ll be relying on the manual to get started. We checked to see if each explained how to use the product thoroughly, provided guidelines for cooking specific foods, and included recipes.

We also considered how easy it was to use the controls (for both manual and digital air fryers), slide the basket in and out, and clean up.

As you may not use this kitchen gadget daily, we also considered how easy it would be to store and stash away.

How Does an Air Fryer Work?

For starters, it's not actually a fryer, but rather a convection oven that includes a heating element and a fan that circulates hot air around foods in a basket. Using at most a half-tablespoon of cooking oil, the appliance will brown and crisp up food. However, it doesn't always deliver the same combination of all-over crunchiness and perfect tenderness as frying in oil.

These appliances don't require more than a few minutes to preheat, so they deliver the goods faster than deep-frying. Plus, during testing, we discovered they didn’t emit any cooking odors, so your house won't smell like a chicken shack.

How to Use an Air Fryer

These devices are easy to use and often easy to clean. Always check the manufacturer's instructions, but most will follow these basic procedures:

1. Preheat before cooking. Many air fryers need time to come to temperature before cooking. In general, preheat to 375°F for 3-5 minutes, depending on the size of the fryer.

2. Don’t overcrowd the food and lay food down flat. Just like conventional frying, overloading your air fryer—especially with frozen foods—could produce soggy or uneven results. Plus, it could also increase the cooking time.

3. Flip while frying. Don't forget to batter and/or bread items properly before dropping them into the air fryer, and be sure to flip your food halfway through the cooking process. Also, keep an eye on your food while it cooks. This will let you adjust timing as necessary and help get you used to your new appliance.

4. Clean the air fryer when you're done. Don’t forget to clean the appliance after you finish cooking and the device has cooled down. Food particles can build up over time and cause issues down the line.

What Can I Cook in an Air Fryer?

There are so many great air fryer recipes (especially for families)! These appliances can do everything from bake, broil and help cook meats, casseroles, or even desserts. They are, of course, limited by their size and don’t offer any advantage over a traditional oven. But if you need an extra oven or don’t want to heat the kitchen, these countertop appliances are helpful.

Some popular air fryer uses include:

  • Roasting vegetables like potatoes, brussels sprouts, carrots, and squash
  • Meat dishes, such as battered chicken, bacon, burgers, and hot dogs
  • Frozen foods like chicken nuggets, french fries, tater tots, mozzarella sticks, and onion rings
  • Baked goods such as donuts, fritters, and funnel cake

Can You Put Foil in an Air Fryer?

You might be tempted to cover the inside of your air fryer basket with aluminum foil before placing your food in to avoid the annoying post-cook washing process. But you're probably better off nixing any sort of lining.

Technically, you can line your air fryer with aluminum foil (or parchment paper) safely without worrying about the concerns associated with microwaving similar materials. But we still caution against it for gustatory reasons.

Air fryer baskets are designed with openings throughout for optimal air flow. It's the reason that frozen fries and chicken thighs don't come out crispy on top and soggy on the bottom. Covering those holes with a lining of any kind can inhibit that air flow, and result in a meh texture.

In our opinion, you're better off ditching the foil and giving your basket a good wash after each use. (Plus, less waste! A win-win.)

Meet the testers

Camryn Rabideau

Camryn Rabideau

Contributor

@CamrynWrites

Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.

See all of Camryn Rabideau's reviews
Sharon Franke

Sharon Franke

Contributor

Sharon has tested and reviewed kitchen equipment for over 30 years. Before becoming a cooking tools maven, she worked as a professional chef in New York City restaurants.

See all of Sharon Franke's reviews

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